MOBILE, Alabama -- A homicide investigator who has spent more than 40 years with the Mobile Police Department has been relieved of his duties after he was indicted on tax evasion charges on Monday, an MPD spokeswoman said.

A warrant was signed out for of Cpl. Donald Maurice Pears, 61, on the day of his arrest, according to records from Mobile County Metro Jail.

The eight-count indictment was handed down by the Alabama Attorney General's Office. Pears faces four counts of willful attempt to evade or defeat tax and four counts of willful fraud and false statements, said MPD spokeswoman Ashley Rains.

As of Monday, Rains said there was no indication the charges were related to his position as a police officer, "but we will conduct a thorough internal investigation."

According to the Attorney General's Office, Pears is accused of state income tax evasion and filing false tax returns. A Mobile County grand jury heard evidence on Dec. 9 and decided there was enough to take Pears to court.

The alleged violations took place between 2007 and 2010, according to the Attorney General's Office.

Pears has served with MPD for more than 42 years. He has been reassigned to administrative duty ahead of an internal investigation, Rains said.

She said the arrest will not affect homicide investigations.

Donald Maurice Pears, 61, turned himself in to authorities on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. (Courtesy of the Mobile County Sheriff's Office)

"Homicide detectives work as a unit with detectives assigned as a lead on specific cases," Rains said. "Any reassigned cases will be given to detectives who have prior knowledge of the events of that case."

Records from Mobile County Metro Jail show Pears was booked around 4:30 p.m. He turned himself in to authorities, according to the Attorney General's Office.

For each count of income tax evasion, Pears could face up to five years imprisonment and a $100,000 fine. For each count of filing false returns, Pears could face up to three years imprisonment and a $100,000 fine.

The news broke on the same day a Mobile police precinct commander and one of her subordinates was set to face an administrative hearing following allegations that they had an inappropriate, sexual relationship while they were on-duty.

Authorities expect to be able to speak about the investigation on Tuesday, Rains said.